Birds Found on the Arctic Slope of Northern AlaskaBee, James W.
Science
Birds Found on the Arctic Slope of Northern Alaska
Bee, James W.
Birds -- Alaska
+Acanthis flammea holboellii+ (Brehm): Common redpoll.--Specimens, 12:
Topagaruk River, 155 deg.48', 70 deg.34', 10 ft., 1, No. 30767, ad. male,
July 9, 1951; Kaolak River, 159 deg.47'40", 70 deg.11'15", 30 ft., 5, Nos.
30762-30766 including 4 ad. males and 1 ad. male (?), July 12, 14,
16-18, 1951; Kaolak, 160 deg.14'51", 69 deg.56'00", 178 ft., 4, Nos. 30758-30761
including 1 ad. male, 2 ad. females and 1 ad. of unknown sex, July 21,
23, 1951; Umiat, 152 deg.09'30", 69 deg.22'08", 352 ft., 1, No. 31333, ad.
female, June 26, 1952; Wahoo Lake, 146 deg.58', 69 deg.08', 2350 ft., 1, No.
31334, ad. male, July 11, 1952.
At Umiat on June 26, 1952, a nest of five eggs (embryos with natal
down) was located in a patch of willows that covered approximately two
square meters. As these willows had not as yet acquired leaves, the
nest was clearly visible. It was 300 millimeters from the ground and
so compactly made as to support its own weight. The outer structure
was of various plant fibers and other stems of willows. The cup had an
inwardly reflected rim, was made of stems of cotton-grass, and was
well insulated with 15 mm of down feathers. The measurements of this
circular nest were: entire nest, 78 mm in diameter and 50 mm in depth:
cup, 42 mm in diameter and 35 mm in depth; weight, 9 grams. Another
nest of three eggs from the same area was in a dwarf willow 350 mm
from the ground. The leaves of the willow were undeveloped. A third
nest of six young approximately three days old, was two feet up in a
dwarf willow having no leaves. The young birds in the nest were three
days old. One female 123 mm in length shot on June 26 had ova up to
two mm in diameter. At Umiat (June 28, 1952) a nest of three young and
two eggs was found and on June 30 another nest with one fresh egg.
At Wahoo Lake (July 3-12, 1952) the redpolls were observed every day
but we considered them relatively uncommon there.
At Topagaruk (July 5-10, 1951) redpolls were among willows growing on
the sides of a creek channel ten feet below the level of the tundra.
This creek had overflowed in early spring covering the willows. One of
the birds approached us to within five feet and after making a close
inspection returned to the willows.
Upon our arrival at Kaolak River (July 12, 1951) most of the redpolls
were living among willows and only occasionally flew overhead. On July
15, they were flying in small groups about 100 feet above the ground
and were calling continually. On July 15, on a four hour field trip,
we counted 28 birds. The young birds on this date could fly well.
At Porcupine Lake these birds were uncommon but a few were seen (July
17, 1952) flying south across divides in the higher mountains.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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